Refrigerating apparatus



March D. D. wiLE REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed i Feb. 17,. 1955 Man-eh 2, 1937. D. D. wlLE REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 17, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 AVlg?) i INVENTOR 16m A oRNEY Patented Mar. 2, 19,37

oN-lrlzo STATES lillrlncr:aA'rmc, APPARATUS Daniel D. Wile, Detroit, Mich., assignor to rDetroit l Lubrlcator Company, Detroit, Mich., a corpoi ration of'Michigan Application February 17, 1933, Serial No. 657,169

8 Claims.

My invention relates. to new and useful im-4 provements in refrigerating apparatus, and more particularly to an apparatus having a continuous liquid circulating system. v

. An object of my invention is to provide means for controlling the circulation of a liquid refrigerant medium through the system.

Another object is to provide a system by -which the temperature within the region or space to be w cooled may be readily controlled.

Another object is to provide an apparatus which is of simple construction and which will be eflicient in operation. v l

' The invention consists in the improved construction and combination of p arts, to be `more fully described hereinafter,4 and the novelty of which will be particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed.

-In the accompanying drawings, to be taken as a part of. this specification, I have fully and invention, in which drawings- Figure 1.is a top plan view of a box or container but with certain cover .plates or members removed, and which embodies the apparatus of my invention;l l

Fig. 2 is a top planview of the box of Figure 1 but with the top closure wall removed to show internal construction, and havingl certain parts of the heat linsulating material broken away; Fig. 3 is a view in section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, also havingportions of the heat insulating material brokenaway, and I Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view in longitudinal central 'section of a controll device forming a part of my apparatus. j

VReferring to the drawings by' characters of reference, I designates, generally, a box or container having a bottom wall 2 irom which rise side or end walls 3. 4, and front and rear walls 5, 6. The 40 walls of the container are heavily insulated with a heat insulating mediumlwhich may be of any of the well-known'materials which will substan-- tially prevent transfer of heat to the interior of 45 the box I from the surrounding atmosphere. The

inner walls of the box I are provided with a metal liner which serves to retain the insulating material in position. The linerl comprises a bottom wall 8 from whichriseside or end walls 3, I0,

50 and front and rear walls I I I2. The' side walls 3,

4 and the iront and rear walls 5, 5 terminate attheir top edges in a plurality of steps or shoulders I3. I'he vertical liner walls terminate at their top edges in a substantially vhorizontal vcontinuous u flange I4 which is turned outwardly andseats clearly illustrated a preferred embodiment of vmyl (cl. ca -101) upon the horizontal face ofthe innermost of the steps I3. The box I is provided with a top wall I5 which is lined on its inner face with a metal plate I6 which seats at'its marginal edges upon the flange I4. The top wall I5 is provided with a thick layer of heat insulating material similar to the remaining walls of the box, and has its surrounding/edges stepped or shouldered to conform to the steps I3 so as to tightly seal the interior of the box I. Within the box I there vis an opentopped casing Il, preferably positioned centrally within the interior of the box and providing a refrigerant medium receiving chamber. The casing I'I has a bottom wall I8 which seats pon and is supported by heat insulating material I9 resting on the bottom liner wall 8. The casing I1 has side walls 20, 2l, and front and rear walls 22,v 23 which are joined to each other and to the bottom wall I8 from which they rise substantially vertically. The walls zo, 2l, z2, and za termi,"

nate substantially at and preferably slightly spaced from the top wall liner member I6. The

interior of the box I may be provided with vertical partitions or walls 24, 2 5 extending between the front. and rear liner walls II, I2v at the sides of the casing I1, and also extending from the bottom liner wall 8 to the liner of vthe top wall I5. These partitions provide compartments or chambers 26, 21 within the box l, which are to be cooled or refrigerated.

Positioned in the upper portion of the interior of the box I, and preferably between the' casing wall 22 and the front liner wall II, there is acontrol device 28. The device 28 preferably comprises a chambered element or casing memv ber having 'a substantially cylindrical side wall 29 closed at one end by a bottom wall 30 and at its other end by a, top wall 3l. ,Through the bot; tom wall 30 there is an inlet port 32 which opens into the bore 33 of a sleeve member or hollow boss 34 positioned within .the chamber 35 of the del vice 28 and rising from the bottom Iwall 30 thereof. The bore 33 receives the lower end of a reciprocable tubular member 36 whichhas a sliding t within the bore 33. Through the wall of the tubular member 36 there ,are one or more ap-- ertures 31 positioned above the sleeve member 34,

and which serve to establish communication between the inlet 32-and the chamber 35. -The bottom edge 38 of the aperture4 31 deilnes the' and positioned oppositely to each other adiaeent the bottom of the chamber 25. The upper lidofthetubularmember Nissecuredtothe lower end of an internally threaded sleeve member 4 0 which is vertically reciprocable in a bon- `net or cap member 4I screw-threaded, or otherwise secured, in an aperturev 42 through the top wall 3l. The sleeve member 4l and the cap member 4I are preferably provided with cooperating longitudinal ribs or guide grooves 42, 43 respectively, which serve to prevent rotation of the sleeve member 4l. Within the sleeve member 4I there is a screw 44 having threaded engagement with the internal threads inthe member 4I. The screw 44 is carried by an operating member or stem 45 which is screw-threaded, as at 4l, within the cap member 4I. A substantially cylindrical extension 41 on the cap member 4 I "surrounds the stem 45 and provides a packing material receiving recess. Within the recessprovided by the extension 41 there is suitable packing material 4l held under compression by a helical coil spring 49 surrounding the stem 45 and seating against a cap 50 screw-threaded, or otherwise secured, upon the extension 41. 'I'he stem 45 extends through an aperture in the capv 5I and is provided with an externalpolygonal portion 5I by which the screw 44 may ma rotated to thereby raise or lower the tubular overow controlling member I6. 'I'he extension 41 preferably projects into an aperture 52 through the top wall I5 so that access may be had to the operating member 45.

' The top wall I5 is provided with one or more apertures 53 therethrough and which open into the compartment 26 so that access may be had thereto. The apertures 53 are normally closed by cover plates 54. The compartment 21 is accessible through the top wall I5 by means of apertures 55 which are normally closed by cover plates 5l. The interior of the casing I1 registers with 4au opening 51 through the top wall I5, the opening being normally closed by a cover plate 5l.

The outlet ports 29 are connected, as at 5l, to tubular conduit members il, 6I which extend through the compartments 25, 21 respectively. The conduit member il has a downow leg or portion which is in intimate ,heat transfer relation .with the side wall 24 of the casing I1, preferably being soldered thereto.- The portion 52 extends to the rear liner wall I2.y At therear liner wall I2 the member 6I is turned toward the end wall i to provide a conduit portion 63. The juncture between the portions 52 and 83 defines the low point of the system with the portion .l rising at a slight -inclination toward the wall i. At the wall l the member 5l is turned to provide a portion I4 lying against the liner wall l 4and extending at substantially the upward inclination of the portion to the front linerwall Il. At the wall II the member 50 is turned to provide a portion which lies thereagainst and extends at the upward inclination of the portions 62 and 54 to a point substantially at the midportion of the wall II. The portion 55 terf minates in an inturned conduit portion 85 which forms the other end portion of the conduit member Il and which opens yinto one branch or arm of a T iltting 61 to which it is secured by a sleeve nut I8. The iitting 61 is threaded or otherwise secured and sealed in the inlet 32. The

portions 43, I4, and I5 are preferably soldered 4 walls I2, 9, and II respectively, so'

to the liner l that the liner walls provide an extended heat absorbing surface -for these portions which de- 'direction indicated by the arrows.

fine the upiiow leg of the system. The conduit member 5l is lpreferably of copper and is substantially semi-circular in cross section, the flat face ofthe conduit member engaging the casing wall 2l and also the hner walls. 'nie tubular conduit member ll also provides a downfiow and an upilow leg for thecompartment 21, and since it is substantially identical in all respects with the` conduit member Il, the primes of the reference characters applied to the conduit member 6l designate like parts of the member 8l. The casing I1 is preferably surrounded by heat insulating-material 50 which may be retained in position by the partitions 24, 25 and by the front andrear hier walls Il, I2. 'Ihe device 28 and the conduit portions 62, 52 are preferably surrounded by and embedded in the material 5l.

'I'he operation of my apparatus and of the circulatory systems defined by the conduit members 50 and 5I together with the control device 2l is as follows: The conduit members ill and Il are filled with an expansible-contractible liquid, such as alcohbl, which will vary in volume in accordance with the heat content thereof. When the systems are at rest and at substantially room temperature, the level of the liquid will be at the line L-L in the chamber 25. aThe apparatus is placed in operation by placing a refrigerant medlum, such as carbon dioxide ice. within the cssing I1. The `carbon dioxide ice within the casing I1 will reduce the temperature therein and of the walls of the casing, thereby abstracting heat from the liquid in the conduit portions 52 and 52. Abstraction of heat from the liquid will increase its density and start circulation of the liquid through the conduit members il and .OI in the The cooled liquid flowing into thecompartments 2l and 21 will absorb orabstract heat from the compartments which will be materially increased in emciency due to contact of the conduit members with the liner walls. As the liquid continues to circulate with heat being abstracted at the casing i1 by the refrigerant medium therein, the

' temperature within the compartments 24 and 21 will decrease, and as the temperature within the compartments 28 and 21 decreases, the heat content of the circulating liquid will also decrease. Since the volume of the 'liquid varies in accordance with its'heat content, the liquid will contract thereby decreasing its volume and lowering the `level of the liquid in the chamber 25 below the line L-L. The temperature of the circulating liquid will continue to decrease and the volume thereof will ultimately contract to a point at which the liquid level in the chamber 35 will be below the level of the overflow edge 3l. This will result in the liquid circuit being broken and will stop further circulation of the liquid through the compartments 25 and21. With the liquid in the conduit members Il and ll at rest, abstraction of heat from chambers 25 and 21 will cease. Ii' the temperature in the compartments 2l, 21 should now increase for any reason, the liquid in the portions of the conduit members within the compartments 28 and 21 will expand and raise the liquid level in the chamber JI above the overilow edge 2l, which will again set up circulation of the liquid through the systems. The temperature within the compartments. and 21 may be controlled by adjustment of the overflow edge 28 by raising or lowering the tubular member I4. Downward movement of .the edge 2l from the position shown in Fig. 4 will result in a lower temperatureinthechambersandbecause 'tem adapted to circulate due the liquid in the circulating systems will have to contract to a greater extent in order to decrease the volume below this lower position of the overiiow edge 38. In order for the liquid to contract further, the temperature of the liquid must be decreased but this can only be accomplished by a further removal of heat from and a lowering of the temperature in -the compartments 2l and 21 by the circulating liquid.

What I claim and desire to secure by letters Patent o'f the United States is:

1. A refrigeration apparatus comprising a cirduct including a chamber having an inlet and an said baille member outlet, and an adjustable' baille member interposed between said inlet a'nd said outlet and providing an elevated o'verow portion in said duct, being adjustable in'height to regulate the temperature to be maintained Vin the region to be cooled.

2. A refrigeration apparatus comprising a circulatory system, means to abstract heat from 'one portion of saidtsystemtsaid system having another portion in heat absorbing relation to a region to be cooled, an

late due to diiferencein temperature between said portions, said liquid' normally nl ling said system to a level to establish a continuousliquid circuit and having its volume variable in accordance with its heat content, said system including a chamber having inlet and outlet ports. and an adjustable tubular member in said chamber and having a'sliding nt in one of said ports, said tubular member having an overflow edge portion operable to interrupt the liquid circuit upon contraction of the liquid.

3. A refrigeratlon apparatus comprising a container enclosinga space to `be refrigerated, a casing within said container land adapted to receive a refrigerant medium, a conduit member having one portion thereof in intimate heat exchange relation'to said casing and having another portion in intimate heat exchange relation with the interior of said container, a lchambered element having an inlet and an outlet. said conduit havingyone end connected 'to saidginlet and, having its other end connected to said outlet, an'expansib1e-conirscnb1e liquid in said conduit and chambered'element, said liquid normally n lling said conduit and chambered element to a level to establish a continuous `liquid circuit, adjustable overilow means in said. chambered element operable upon contraction of said liquid to interrupt iiow between said inlet and said outlet, and means to adjust said last-named means.

4. A refrigeration apparatus comprising a container enclosing a space to be refrigerated, a casing within said container and adapted to receive a' refrigerant medium, d conduit member having one portion thereof in intimate heat exchange relation to said casing and having another portion in intimate heat exchange relation with the in-v terior of said container. means insulating said casing and said one conduit portion from the inexpansible and con- V -tractible liquid in ysaid system adapted to circuterior of said container, a chambered element having an inlet and .an outlet. said conduit having one end connected to'said inlet and' having its other endconnected to said outlet, an expansible-contractible liquid in said conduit and chambered element, said liquid normally-filling vsaid conduit and chambered element to a level to establish a continuous liquid circuit, adjust able overflow means in said chambered element permitting communication between said inlet and said outlet but eifective to interrupt liquid tlow between saidinlet and said outlet, and means to adjust said last-named means.

5. A refrigeration rapparatus comprising a circulatory system denned by an endless duct. means to abstract heat from one portion of said system.

said system having another .portion in heat ab,

sorbing relation to' a region to be cooled, an expansible and contractlble liquid in said system adapted to circulate due to diil'erence -ln temperature between said portions, said liquid normally ililing said' system to a level to establish a continuous liquid circuit and having /lts volume variable in accordance with itsl heat content, a movably Vsupported tubular member in and forming part of said duct and through which the liquid flows, said tubular member providing an elevated portion'in said system over which the liquid ows, and means to raise and lower said tubular member to regulate the height ofthe elevated portiony to l co'ntrol the extent of, contraction of the liquid volume which will interrupt the liquid circuit.

6. A refrigeration apparatus comprising a cir- *culatory system, means to abstract heat from one portion of said system, said system having another portion in heat absorbingrelation to a region to be cooled, an expansible and contractible liquid in .said system adapted to circulate due to diiference in temperature between said portions, said liquid normally illling said system to a level to establish a continuous liquid circuit and havlng its volume variable in accordance with its heat content, said system including a chamber having inlet and outlet ports. a tubular member movably supported in said chambered element and extending upward from one oi said ports, said tubular member having an overow edge portion, and means to raise and lower said tubular member to regulate the extent of contraction of said liquid which will interrupt' the liquid circuit 1..In a refrigeration apparatus, a control device including a casing .having an inlet portA and Y an outlet port for flow through said casing of aA heat transferring liquid. a movablysupportedtubular member extendingupward intosaid casing from one of said ports and having an overflow edge portion operable to control the circula4 tion through said casing of the heat transferring liquid. adjustment means projecting Vinto 4said casing for raising and lowering said tubular mem: ber, and means operatively connecting said ad- Justment means and said tubular member.

8. In a refrigeration apparatus. a control device including a casing having an inlet port and an outlet port for ilow through said casing of a heat transferring liquid, a movably supported tubular means extending upward into said casing,

from one of saidv ports and having an overflow ledge portion operable to control the circulation through saidcas'ing olf the. heat transferring liquid, and means for adjusting the height of said overilow edg'e.- n

DANIEL D. WILE. 

